See What Common Scrap Metals Look Like

Very bright, shiny copper with no insulation, paint, solder, or fittings. Usually straight pieces or neatly stripped wire.

Common items: Stripped house wire, clean copper bus bar, clean copper cable with no coating.

One of the higher-value copper grades when prepared correctly.

Clean copper with minimal tarnish and no solder joints, paint, or brass fittings attached.

Common items: New copper pipe offcuts, clean plumbing pipe, uncoated copper bus.

Copper with paint, solder, brass fittings, or heavier tarnish. Still clearly copper, but not as clean as #1.

Common items: Older plumbing, lines with elbows and valves, painted copper.

Thicker cable where a good portion of the weight is copper inside, not just the plastic coating.

Common items: House service cable, heavy extension cords, larger power cables.

Thinner wire where most of the weight is plastic insulation and less is copper.

Common items: Data cable, speaker wire, low-voltage wire, phone cable.

Lightweight, non-magnetic beverage cans. Rinse and keep trash out of the bags when possible.

Common items: Soda, beer, and energy drink cans.

Thin, flat aluminum pieces, sometimes painted or coated. Generally non-magnetic and light.

Common items: Siding, gutter pieces, flat stock, soffit materials.

Hollow or shaped aluminum pieces, often from windows and doors. Usually non-magnetic and rigid.

Common items: Window frames, door frames, structural aluminum shapes.

Thicker, rougher-looking aluminum that has been poured into a mold. Often heavier than regular sheet.

Common items: Engine and transmission housings, patio furniture bases.

Heavy, non-magnetic wheels. Tires should be removed before recycling, and wheel weights removed when possible.

Common items: Car and truck rims, aftermarket aluminum wheels.

Magnetic steel items, often thinner or lighter. Paint and rust are common and okay.

Common items: Shelving, bed frames, grills, light angle iron, light appliances.

Thicker, heavier steel pieces like beams and plate. Always magnetic, often from construction or demolition.

Common items: Structural beams, heavy plate, industrial brackets.

Very heavy, very brittle iron. It breaks instead of bends and is strongly magnetic.

Common items: Brake rotors and drums, old tubs, cast machinery bases.

Silver, often shiny. Slightly magnetic in some cases, especially where it’s been bent or welded.

Common items: Sinks, kitchen equipment, restaurant fixtures, railings.

Higher-grade stainless often used around salt water. Typically non-magnetic or very weakly magnetic.

Common items: Boat hardware, marine fasteners, certain food-processing equipment.

Yellow-gold color and heavier than aluminum. Often used in plumbing and water fixtures.

Common items: Valves, hose bibs, faucets, some door hardware.

Darker, redder brass or bronze. Heavier and denser than yellow brass in many cases.

Common items: Some older plumbing, bronze bushings, pump parts.

Heavy, dense units that contain copper windings inside a steel shell. Often oily from use.

Common items: A/C fan motors, pump motors, tool and equipment motors.

Closed compressor units from refrigerators and A/C systems. Must be removed from the appliance.

Common items: Fridge compressors, small A/C compressors (please check with us on requirements).

Radiators made of aluminum or copper/brass, usually with fins and tanks. Fluids must be drained.

Common items: Car and truck radiators, heater cores.

Coils with copper tubes and aluminum fins. Lines should be cut and units drained according to regulations.

Common items: Residential and light commercial A/C coil sections.

Very heavy, soft metal that can be scratched with a knife. Often dull gray in color.

Common items: Old plumbing lead, roof flashing, lead wheel weights (some now zinc/steel).

Vehicle and equipment batteries with plastic cases and lead plates inside. Must remain upright and unbroken.

Common items: Car, truck, marine, and equipment batteries. (No household AA/AAA, etc.)

Metal cases containing boards, drives, and wiring. Often stacked on pallets for easier handling.

Common items: Desktop towers, rack servers, some networking gear (call first for TVs/monitors).

Boards from computers and electronics containing small amounts of copper, gold, and other metals.

Common items: Motherboards, expansion cards, power supply boards.